TIKABOO HIKE MAY 4, 1996

Everyone in the world is invited to a free public hike of Tikaboo 
Peak, an 8000-foot mountain overlooking the secret Groom Lake air 
base (and offering a fine view in other directions as well).  We 
will meet at 9:00 am, Saturday, May 4, 1996, at milepoint LN 32.2 
on US-93, about 86 miles north of Las Vegas.  The hike is 
sponsored by the Area 51 Research Center.

This is the second Tikaboo hike of the season, scheduled months 
before the recent E.T. Highway unveiling.  Since we had a similar 
hike after the unveiling on April 19, we do not expect a big 
turnout for this one.  There will also be another Tikaboo hike 
sometime in July, and of course you can hike the peak anytime on 
your own.

WARNING:  This is a strenuous two hour hike (and one hour back).  
It should not be attempted by people who are not in good physical 
shape.  Experienced hikers or people who get regular aerobic 
exercise you should have no trouble, but this is not a hike for 
smokers or couch potatoes.  The vertical distance traveled is less 
than 1000 feet and the hiking distance is less than two miles, but 
at 7000-8000 feet every step can be exhausting for those who are 
used to sea level.

If you are coming from Las Vegas, you need to leave town around 7 
am to arrive at the meeting point in time, and you probably won't 
get back until evening.  To reach the meeting point from Las 
Vegas, go north on I-15 (Salt Lake City direction) for about 20 
miles to the US-93 exit, then go north on US-93 for 66.8 miles to 
milepoint LN 32.2. (Mileposts are marked every mile by small white 
signs on the side of the road.)  The meeting point is at a minor 
dirt road (marked only by a stop sign) between the Lower and Upper 
Pahranagat Lakes in the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.  This 
location is about 0.3 mile past the well-marked entrance to the 
refuge headquarters.  If you arrive later than 9 am, you can try 
to catch up with us by following the dirt road west from here, but 
there is no guarantee you will find us.

After meeting at the highway, we will drive west on a good dirt 
road (suitable for any vehicle) about 25 miles to Badger Spring.  
4WD vehicles can proceed about 0.5 mi beyond this point.

This location is public land many miles from the military border, 
so encounters with authorities are unlikely.  Feel free to bring a 
camera, although you'll need a telephoto lens to capture any of 
the secret base.  Area 51 appears as an ordinary Air Force base 25 
miles in the distance, and only a few large hangars are visible 
with the naked eye.

BRING.  Hikers should expect pleasant temperatures on the hike but 
possibly high winds at the top.  Sturdy hiking shoes are 
essential, and you need to bring at least 3 quarts of liquid for 
the hike.  Telescopes are needed for viewing the base, but there 
should be enough of them among the group that not everyone needs 
to bring one.  At the summit is a small religious shrine dedicated 
to Our Lady of the Black Budget; small offerings of sacred objects 
are recommended.

DISCLAIMER.  You are responsible for your own safety on this 
outing.  Organizers of this hike accept no liability whatsoever 
for any loss or injury.

Cellular phones work fine at the highway meeting point and at the 
summit but not in-between.  We will have one with us, so if you 
have any problems on the day of hike, try that phone at 702-592-
9020 (that day only!).

If you plan to come on this hike, you should contact the Research 
Center the day before at 702-729-2648 in case anything changes.

GPS Coordinates:
   Highway Meeting Point (US-93)  37d16.815' 115d07.070'
   Intermediate Road Points       37d12.463' 115d11.662'
                                  37d18.901' 115d17.747'
   Badger Spring                  37d20.807' 115d20.436'
   Trailhead                      37d20.887' 115d20.767'
   Tikaboo Summit                 37d20.650' 115d21.462'

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